- Honorary workers: The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme (now renamed as Anganwadi Services under Umbrella ICDS Scheme) envisages the Anganwadi Workers(AWWs) & Anganwadi Helpers (AWHs) as “ honorary workers” from the local community who come forward to render their services, on part time basis, in the area of child care and development.
- Being honorary workers, they are paid monthly honoraria as decided by Government from time to time.
- Monthly honoraria: The Government of India has enhanced the honorarium of AWWs and AWHs at Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) by Rs.1,500/- & Rs. 750/- per month raising it to Rs.3000/- & Rs.1,500/- per month respectively w.e.f. 01.04.2011.
- The honorarium of AWWs at Mini-AWCs has been enhanced to Rs.2,250/- per month w.e.f. 04.07.2013.
Since these functionaries are paid fixed honorarium, their honorarium is not indexed.
Additional honorarium: Besides this, most of the States/UTs are also giving additional honorarium to AWWs and AWHs out of their own resources for any additional work assigned to them from time to time. - The Government of India releases funds consistently for regular disbursement of honorarium of AWWs/AWHs.
- Not entitled for minimum wages: Since the Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers are honorary workers under the Integrated Child Development Services Scheme, they are not entitled for minimum wages.
- In a ruling of 07.12.2006 in Civil Appeal No.4953-4957 of 1998 – State of Karnataka & Ors. Vs. Ameerbi & Ors. the Hon’ble Supreme Court has also held that Anganwadi Workers do not hold any civil post and Minimum Wages Act is also not applicable to them.
(Answers of the questions asked by P.K.Biju in Lok Sabha, Source: Lok Sabha)
